Pratik Parab /
Sullivan Noronha
Margao: The Captain of Chennaiyin FC Elano Blumer was arrested by the Margao Town Police following a complaint of FC Goa owner Dattaraj Salgaokar after Dattaraj alleged that Elano got into a confrontation with him while he was with Zico. The Police Control room at Fatorda registered the complaint under section 341, 504, 323 of IPC for wrongful restraint, abuse and of complainant. The sections being cognizable offences the international player had to file bail application late night.
It was an ugly violent end to a fact paced incident filled game, with fans shells hocked, not just at dramatic turnaround but the after effects of what they felt were biased decisions by the referee Speaking to Herald late Sunday night, co ownwr and prime witness to the incident Srinivas Dempo said “ Elano Blumer elbowed Dattaraj and abused him after he camp towards our dug out after the match and started speaking in a manner which upset our players, especially the Brazillian ones who he was speaking to. When Dattaraj went up and told the payer that FC Goa respects him but he should let the team owners console the players and be with them. At this Elano said “who are you, f*** off. This was unacceptable. In addition Goan pride was hurt. So we decided to file an FIR. Let law take its course”
The post-match situation turned extremely ugly, according to Mr Dempo who said “We received an email from ISL that after the match five people from FC Goa would go for the awards ceremony. A we walked into the ground we were stopped by the ISL security. We had to show the email from ISL. We then made our way to the dug-out and stated to console the players. At this time Elano moved in”. At the time of going to press there was no statement on the incident from ISL.
Till the time this news report was written, Elano was still under arrest and kept at the room of the Margao PI, with two of his colleague players, the officers of Reliance Sports and also the team managers of Chennaiyin FC. His lawyer Advocate Rajeev Gomes moved the judge for bail late at night.
“It is highly unfair to make a player surrender his passport for a bailable offence and that too a player of such a huge stature” Adv. Rajiv Gomes counsel for Elano said.
The 90 mins were marred by some unsportsmanlike behaviour following the final whistle. Before the match could end, Chennaiyin’s Bruno Pelissari allegedly kicked an extra ball into the field of play while Goa were on the attack. This antic didn’t go down well with the home team. They felt the player should have been reprimanded for the action, but the referee decided to take no action and carried on with the game.
It was safe to assume that this did not go down well with the home team – owners, management staff and players who got into heated arguments with league officials, referees and members of the opposition camp.
The performance of the referee was also not appreciated by the 18000 plus fans who believed that there were many decisions that should have gone the home side’s way but didn’t. There was another chorus of loud boos as the referees went to collect their medals.
Some sections however felt that the home team should have stayed back for the presentation ceremony, but it was obvious that the circumstances were far too overwhelming and emotional.
